Preview: UFC Fight Night 234 Prelims

Featherweights

Jean Silva (11-2, 0-0 UFC) vs. Westin Wilson (16-8, 0-1 UFC)

ODDS: Silva (-750), Wilson (+525)

Hopes have not been high for Wilson’s UFC career in terms of success, but it should be fun for however long it lasts. A Stephen Thompson disciple, Wilson cuts an impressive figure as a 6-foot-1 featherweight with an offensively focused approach. All else being equal, Wilson seemingly intends to fight behind a karate striking style, though in practice that tends to quickly go out the window during most of his fights. He does not seem to have the cardio to keep that approach up for long, and his lack of high-level athleticism means that most opponents can usually close distance and turn things into a brawl sooner rather than later. Wilson thankfully seems comfortable in a scrap and has an aggressive grappling game when needed in close quarters, but between that lack of athleticism and high-level durability, his overall package of skills seems destined to suffer a lot of finish losses at higher levels. Indeed, Joanderson Brito made quick work of Wilson in his late-notice debut in July. Wilson looks to rebound with a win in his sophomore effort against a UFC newcomer in Silva, who earned a contract with a win on Dana White’s Contender Series in September.

Silva is a solid enough prospect, though it will be interesting to see how he continues to adapt against better competition. He is technically sound but can be a bit meandering at times, looking somewhat reliant on his finishing ability on the regional level. He eventually settled into a solid decision win on DWCS but might need to step things up to make hay in a deep featherweight division, particularly as an undersized 145-pounder. If nothing else, the size difference here could be quite amusing. Silva might let Wilson settle into this fight a bit more than expected, but it still seems quite likely that the Brazilian can find a finish within 15 minutes, even if this is not a clean performance. The pick is Silva via first-round stoppage.

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